Bail Bonds
Bail Bond vs. Cash Bail: Which Should You Choose?
Same result, very different price tags — and only one of them comes back. Here's how to choose between cash bail and a bond.
7 min read
Resources for Families of Incarcerated Loved Ones
Plain-English guides on bail, writing letters, sending care packages, lowering call costs, and navigating the justice system.
Bail Bonds
How Much Does a Bail Bond Cost? Premiums & Collateral Explained
The premium isn't the only number on the bill. Here's what a bail bond really costs, state by state.
7 min read
Send Letters
How to Address Mail to an Inmate (Format + Examples)
One line out of order and a letter bounces. Here's the exact format to use, with real examples.
6 min read
Care Packages
What Can You Send in an Inmate Care Package?
Facility rules on care packages are stricter — and stranger — than most families expect. Here's what's actually allowed.
7 min read
Discounted Phone Calls
How to Lower the Cost of Jail and Prison Phone Calls
Same phone, same number of calls, a fraction of the bill — without the local-number workaround. Here's the simpler way to pay less.
6 min read
How to Find Someone Who Was Just Arrested
They're not answering and no one will tell you where they are. Here's how to actually find someone after an arrest.
6 min read
Bail Bonds
How to Bail Someone Out of Jail: A Step-by-Step Guide
From the moment of arrest to walking out the door: exactly what to do, what it costs, and how a bail bond gets your loved one home.
8 min read
Send Letters
How to Write a Letter to an Inmate (and What Gets Rejected)
Facility mailrooms reject thousands of letters a day over small mistakes. Here's how to make sure yours gets through.
7 min read
Discounted Phone Calls
Why Are Inmate Phone Calls So Expensive — and How to Pay Less
Families spend $50–$100 a month just to hear a voice. Here's why — and the legal ways to cut that bill down.
6 min read
Provider directory
Who's Who in Inmate Services
Plain-English profiles of the 15 companies behind jail and prison phone calls, video visits, money transfers, email, and care packages.
Phone & Video Call Providers
Money Transfer & Deposit Providers
Email & Messaging Providers
Commissary & Care-Package Vendors
Latest articles
News & Stories from US Jails & Prisons
Reporting and in-depth articles on conditions, policy, and events at correctional facilities across the country.
Blog IN TRANSIT
DC's Pretrial Detention System: One of the Most Reform-Forward in the US
Washington DC has operated a largely low-cash-bail pretrial system for decades and has one of the highest court-appearance rates in the country. Here's how it works.
Blog IN TRANSIT
Why DC Felony Convicts Serve Time in Federal Prisons, Not DC Jail
DC is not a state, so it has no state prison system. People convicted of DC felonies serve their sentences in federal Bureau of Prisons facilities. Here's how to find them.
News IN TRANSIT
DOJ's 2021 Investigation Found Unconstitutional Conditions at DC Jail
In November 2021, the US Department of Justice found that DC Jail violated inmates' constitutional rights. The investigation was partly triggered by conditions for January 6 detainees. Here's what the report found.
Blog Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole
Pennsylvania Clean Slate Act: Automatic Record Sealing After Parole
Pennsylvania's Clean Slate Act of 2018 automatically seals certain criminal records after a waiting period. Here's who qualifies, what gets sealed, and what it means.
Blog Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole
Pennsylvania's Parole Revocation Problem: High Rates and Recent Reforms
Pennsylvania has historically had among the highest parole revocation rates in the US. Learn why, what the data shows, and what recent reforms have changed.
Blog Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole
Pennsylvania Act 59 of 2022: New Limits on Technical Parole Violations
Pennsylvania's Act 59 of 2022 restricts when technical parole violations can result in re-incarceration. Learn what changed and what it means for people on parole.
News Cook County Sheriff's Office (CCDOC) - Main Facility
The 2020 COVID-19 Outbreak at Cook County Jail and What Changed After
In spring 2020, Cook County Jail became one of the worst COVID-19 hotspots in the US. A federal lawsuit forced reforms. Here's what happened and what's different now.
Blog Cook County Sheriff's Office (CCDOC) - Main Facility
Cook County Jail: America's Largest De Facto Mental Health Facility
Cook County Jail houses more people with serious mental illness than any psychiatric hospital in the US. Sheriff Tom Dart has partnered with NAMI and mental health providers to respond. Here's the full picture.
News Cook County Sheriff's Office (CCDOC) - Main Facility
Illinois Ended Cash Bail in 2023 — How It Changed Cook County Jail
On September 18, 2023, Illinois became the first state to fully eliminate cash bail. Cook County Jail's population fell from over 7,000 to around 5,000. Here's what changed.
Blog Arkansas Department of Corrections (ADC)
Arkansas Truth-in-Sentencing and Habitual Offender Laws Explained
Arkansas requires violent offenders to serve at least 70% of their sentence with no parole. Habitual offender laws can extend sentences dramatically. Here's how it works.
Find your loved one and take the next step
Search 50 US jails and prisons, then post bail, send mail, ship a care package, or lower your call costs — all in one place.